Autumn’s Finest Season in Nanjing: Step into the “Aristocratic Estate” at the Eastern Foot of Zijin Mountain and Embark on a Luxurious Journey

“The ancient Ming city revels under blue skies, white clouds tread early on autumn breezes.” Once again, it’s the most enchanting time in Jinling. At this time of year, Nanjing truly becomes “Jinling,” the whole city draped in golden armor.

Zijin Mountain to the east of Nanjing is the symbol of the city. Its cultural landscape dotted with historic sites, and the natural scenery of gilded hillsides, make this mountain live up to its name “Purple Mountain” every autumn. From the “Golden Necklace” of Meiling Palace to the colorful forests surrounding the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and the Music Platform, it evokes the sentiment: “A lingering Jinling dream, that winding bay in my heart.”

At the foot of Niushou Mountain in the southwest of the ancient city, the brand-new Jinling Town transports visitors back through history, dreaming of the Six Dynasties, and offering a different flavor of Jinling – a trendy reason to visit Nanjing.

Yet, if you can find a superior hotel to stay amidst such beauty, it might add an extra splash of color to your golden autumn trip to Nanjing. Without leaving Zijin Mountain, at its eastern foot lies such a haven – Suning Zhongshan International Golf Hotel.

This is not my first stay at this hotel; it’s one I particularly favor in Jinling, so I’m willing to entrust it with my most beautiful moments. What’s more, this time it has something new to offer.

With a long and storied history, the hotel traces its origins back to the “Suburban Golf Course” built by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China in 1929. In 2006, Suning Sofitel Zhongshan Golf Hotel opened, writing a new chapter for golf hotels in Nanjing. From April 2019, a landmark renovation lasting nearly two years took place. On December 26, 2020, Suning Real Estate Group brought the luxury and legendary service of Zhongshan Golf Hotel to Jinling. As an elegant luxury brand under Suning Group independently operated, the hotel boasts a unique encircling golf course and secluded classical estate-style scenery.

In the nearly two years since opening, the hotel’s quality has been highly recognized and its reputation has soared. Yet it hasn’t stopped evolving; this year it capitalized on trends by launching “Zhongshan Wonderland · Nature Camp,” an outdoor camp offering one-stop service.

The camp is surrounded by the golf course, featuring tents named after constellations, various camping items, and trendy Glamping Vans. It also comes equipped with barbecue tools and ingredients, completely solving the needs of those who ‘want to camp but dread the hassle.’ Since its launch, it quickly became a sensation, with tents in high demand.

Next to the camp is the Nanjing Zhongshan International Golf Course, a 27-hole standard course including an 18-hole floodlit course, laid out according to the terrain of Zhongshan. From the floor-to-ceiling windows of the hotel’s lobby lounge, you can glimpse the greens reflected in the landscape pool, making many guests yearn to play.

Since you’re at a golf hotel, how can you not give golf a try? The hotel specially offers golf experience vouchers for staying guests, allowing them to enjoy a swing here.

Although it’s a driving range, it’s equipped with brand-new automatic ball dispensers. Practice sessions are charged by the hour, and the automatic dispenser greatly improves swing efficiency – perfect for beginners! I happily practiced here for an hour and felt a small sense of achievement.

Even if you don’t play golf, the hotel’s other recreational facilities allow urban dwellers to get active and discover the essence of healthy living during a holiday. The indoor heated pool features a beautiful glass dome, with sunlight streaming in as if bathing in nature; the supporting facilities are also comprehensive.

The gym offers quick and focused workout plans, providing efficient exercise solutions for fitness enthusiasts. Equipped with advanced Life Fitness equipment, it is open around the clock – convenient and effective.

The hotel also fully caters to families: the oversized children’s activity center is well-equipped, keeping little ones entertained for the better part of a day. Even adults like me feel tempted to join in!

All this wonder stems from this luxurious resort estate nestled at the foot of Zijin Mountain, in the precious land of Zhongshan. Now, let’s start from the beginning to know it and fall in love with it.

The two-year transformation was led by the renowned design firm CCD, using natural understatement to reveal luxurious depth. Strolling through the elegant estate, under neatly trimmed tree canopies, you see the understated luxury of European-style architecture, with a serene and steady atmosphere – stepping into a grand manor.

Here, the arrival experience is exceptional. The hotel entrance features a heavy bronze crafted gate, embodying manor-like elegance. The concierge gracefully opens the car door for guests, and a uniquely customized ‘S’ handle is pushed, ushering in a service experience of noble privilege.

From the welcome lobby onward, CCD’s bespoke spatial aesthetics unfold gradually. A hand-crafted crystal chandelier custom-made in the Czech Republic and towering black bookshelves on either side outline an aristocratic profound charm. The black wood grain materials, golden ceiling, and custom stone inlaid floor perfectly marry European intricacy with modern luxury materials. The overall palette of black and gold evokes the imperial aura of Nanjing, the ancient capital of emperors.

Concealed behind the welcome lobby is the lobby lounge, where European nobility and refinement are interpreted with a modern touch, yet warm and cozy like home. Classic furniture arrangements, Art Deco fabric, floral arrangements, and crystal chandeliers harmonize to make this space even more enchanting.

However, the most beautiful feature here is the floor-to-ceiling windows revealing lush green views of the golf greens, cleverly reflected in the landscape pool, creating a play of light and shadow that changes at different times of the day.

The 262 guest rooms are named with poetic Chinese phrases such as ‘Muyue,’ ‘Yanlan,’ ‘Jingxi,’ and ‘Jiyun,’ all derived from classical poetry, with the names echoing the views: ‘Yue’ implies mountain vistas, ‘Jing’ refers to the golf course, and so on, like calligraphic brushstrokes full of rhythm.

Rooms start from 51 square meters, offering generous space, blending Eastern classical aesthetics with European elegance and nobility. The unique room layout feels refreshingly original.

Upon opening the door, you are greeted by a daybed and a clever umbrella stand, giving each guest a sense of coming home. The distinctive island-style foyer also enhances privacy.

On either side of the foyer are open bathroom spaces and wardrobes; a standalone vanity and a square bathtub directly opposite become unique highlights of the room.

The color scheme continues the lobby’s combination of black wood grain and gold details, overall dignified, elegant, and steady, reminiscent of a grand Republican-era mansion.

The rooms incorporate white lacquered panels and warm linen furniture with local orange accents, creating a comfortable and tranquil home-like feel. Especially at sunset, when sunlight spills into the room, the pervading serenity is intoxicating.

Details such as the Kallista bath collection (a brand under Kohler, used in the White House), a well-stocked complimentary minibar, a golf ball turndown gift, and Hermès toiletries in the room type I stayed in greatly enhance the stay experience.

If I had to recommend a room type, the Jiyun Terrace Room would be my top pick. Step out onto the terrace, and the entire golf course unfolds before your eyes – a feast of flowing emerald green!

If the East-meets-West style and comfortable, luxurious rooms satisfy the soul, then the hotel’s four restaurants delight the body from different dimensions, truly achieving well-being for both body and mind.

Next to the lobby lounge, the Lanting buffet restaurant welcomes guests with four tall blue screens, designed with the concept of an ancient Nanjing street where time and space converge. Window-side seats offer views of the golf course.

In addition to the buffet breakfast, the nightly buffet feast has become a benchmark for quality hotel buffets in Nanjing, packed every evening.

At the open cooking stations, chefs prepare various Chinese and Western dishes on the spot using high-quality ingredients. From freshly grilled oysters, foie gras, and tomahawk steaks to claypot rice, durian pizza, and ice jelly – the main dishes and desserts are endless. Hot Chinese dishes focus on Jiangsu-Zhejiang cuisine, authentic and delicious, with Peking duck and cheese pasta delivered directly to each table. A wide array of seafood, juices, desserts, and fruits are also freely available, making you wish you had a bigger appetite.

The exquisite Huaiyang restaurant, Zijin Ge, embodies the beauty of traditional Chinese order – dignified and steady. Delicate screen partitions create spatial layers and a sense of ceremony. The color palette distills the cyan of Nanjing’s glazed tiles, while royal blue is used as an accent, evoking a refined new taste with Oriental charm. Meanwhile, Chinese red tones in the furniture and continuous copper art decorations on corridor walls create a blend of East and West, allowing you to sense the collision of European flair.

The restaurant has seven private dining rooms with distinct decor styles. The most splendid, the ‘Jinling’ room, not only faces the natural scenery of the courtyard but also features walls adorned with cloisonné decorations, adding an artistic touch to the ambience. Here, diners can savor the ultimate Chinese culinary culture where aesthetics are taken to the extreme.

The restaurant specializes in creative Huaiyang cuisine, handling fresh seasonal ingredients with Huaiyang techniques and blending in trendy new flavors, so that classics always feel fresh and never tiresome. The signature crab roe stewed fish brain is a labor-intensive dish rarely found elsewhere. Fish brain is an ingredient easily rejected for its fishy taste, but this dish is fragrant and tempting, each spoonful satisfying – a true display of culinary skill. The golden crispy roast pork is another must-order. The bridge-shaped golden crackling dusted with fresh sugar powder transforms what could be a cloying dish into a crispy texture and rich meaty flavor on the tongue – one piece is never enough!

Other recommended dishes include slow-cooked beef with truffle powder and crab flavor parcels, none of which will disappoint.

In the Milan Western restaurant, walk through a corridor where time and space converge and feel the collision of Italian style. A rugged nostalgic Italian atmosphere pervades; the archway is inspired by the natural arch, a collapsed limestone cave on the eastern coast of Capri, Italy. The menu covers a wide range of Western classics; one must-try is the specially made Italian pizza, baked to perfection with an irresistible aroma.

Not to be missed is the renowned Japanese restaurant Kurogi, famous as “Tokyo’s hardest-to-book restaurant” and listed among “Shanghai’s Top Ten Luxury Restaurants” as the “premium Japanese restaurant.” This is Kurogi’s second overseas branch after Kurogi Shanghai. Nestled within the classical estate, it presents a Japanese garden design – zen, elegant, and serene. Stone paths and ornamental tile walls in the courtyard evoke poetry and comfort, with empty spaces to cultivate the spirit, embodying the designer’s vision for this space.

“Jinling, a place of beauty and strategic importance, nestled at the foot of Zijin Mountain.” In this most beautiful golden autumn, this resort estate that blends seamlessly with the most enchanting Jinling – what reason do you have to refuse? Set off now – it deserves you spend a few days to fully experience it!

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